Developing a just society based on equity and equal opportunities for all with respect for diversity.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Settling into RAINS

For
the first few weeks we have been getting to know all the volunteers on the ICS
programme. We are beginning to learn and understand Tamale as a city as we try
to navigate the city to find the best fabric shops, the best Indomie cafes, and
the cheapest oranges.

Now
as we enter our fifth week, we have established ourselves and have begun
integrating into the community. Last week we have met with the staff of Marie
Stopes to learn more about sexual health in Ghana, and how they deal with the
legalities and social complications of their support. Also, on Thursday morning
we met with the chiefs of Tamale to receive our welcome into the community, and
discuss the chief’s passion for development. “In my ancestor’s time,” the chief
told us, “we chiefs would fight each other for land and goods, but in this
modern time we have to work together to fight poverty and ignorance.”

With
this encouragement in mind, we are optimistic about the RAINS project and what
we can achieve. We decided to use the chief’s wisdom to talk to our diverse
team about why they chose to join the ICS Rains project.

“After
working in S.E. Asia for a year I realised I wanted to see more of the world
and try to make a change. This programme enables me to make a change and work
with an amazing NGO. It also gives me the opportunity to learn more about
myself and conquer personal and professional challenges. Also I get to learn
how to manage a team and learn skills that will help me get a job in this
sector in the future. The ability to get out of your comfort zone and
experience a new culture is one of my favourite challenges and Ghana is not
disappointing so far.” – Katie B (Team Leader)

Katie B

“To
improve my leadership skills and also be an agent of change in our rural
communities” - Ibrahim (Team Leader)

IB

“I
choose the ICS programme because I want to understand and know exactly what
charity is all about and I also want to bring sustainable development to my
community and to improve my confidence and my computer skills” – Linda

Linda

“I
wanted to be a part of an organisation who is working towards worldwide
equality. I also wanted to gain a greater understanding of international
development and would be interested in working in this field in the future” – Katie M

Katie M

“I
choose to do ICS because I want to work to change the world and help teenagers
understand more about their sexual health and human rights” – Latifa

Latifah

“I
choose to do ICS because I wanted to build my confidence and improve my
communication skills as well.” – Kingsley

Kingsley

“I wanted to be culturally immersed in a
community that was very different to my own, to challenge my own personal
limits and make a positive difference in the process.” – Dylan

Dylan

“I
wanted to gain more confidence and learn more about myself and what I’m capable
of. I also wanted to learn more about a different culture and try and make a
small but substantial change in the hope I would impact at least one life.”- Beth

Beth

“I
choose ICS to put a smile on the faces of people outside my community while
demonstrating that someone somewhere cares about them. I also wanted to explore
my career as a care-giver further” –
Rebecca

Rebecca

“I joined ICS because I wanted to make a practical
difference after feeling powerless to help stop poverty and suffering that
seemed to fill news stories and current events. RAINS was particularly exciting
due to my commitment to feminism. Being able to live in another culture
emphasises the importance of cross-cultural feminism in a world that often
feels divided and detached.” – Alice

Alice

“I
choose to do ICS because I wanted to explore the world more since it’s about
going out of one’s home community and being fixed in a new one. I also wanted
to challenge myself to change my world and to make the things that seem impossible,
possible. – Anaamlie

Ana

“I
choose ICS because I recently graduated in Anthropology and I thought ICS would
provide me with experience to consider a future career in international
development. I also particularly wanted to come to Ghana because I was so
interested in the culture, in particular the fabrics for making dresses! I have
also enjoyed meeting people from the UK and Ghana and overcoming personal
insecurities and gaining new skills through the challenges on the programme.” –
Elisabeth

Elisabeth

Despite
our varying backgrounds and cultures, we are all clearly combined in our passion
for our new lives in Ghana and our project’s development goals. We all look
forward to getting more immersed in our communities and setting our plans into
action!